The White House is such a revered symbol of the United States that invading British troops in the War of 1812 sacked and burned it, virtually destroying it and its contents. (The exceptional illustration above depicting the White House in ruins, was purchased by the Library of Congress at the same time the White House purchased the companion view of the President's House.)
Informed of the British advance down Pennsylvania Avenue, First Lady Dolley Madison remained in the White House after many of the government officials — and her own bodyguard — had already fled, gathering valuables, documents and other items of importance, notably the Lansdowne Portrait, a full-length painting of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart.
She was finally persuaded to leave moments before invading soldiers entered the building.
Once inside, the soldiers found the dining hall set for a dinner for 40 people. After eating all the food, they took souvenirs (including one of the President Madison's hats) and then set the building on fire.
The White House was and remains a prime target for our enemies not because of its temporary chief occupant, but because it is the heart of the American people.
The President's residence was a major feature of Pierre Charles L'Enfant's plan for the newly established federal city, Washington D.C.
For these and myriad other reasons it is called “The Peoples’ House”.
A peoples’ gift to the President
By exercising our franchise every four years, we allow the incoming President the honor of living there… free of charge. Most of those to hold the office consider it the most enjoyable of all the chief executive’s benefits.
Real Americans have an emotional connection to The People’s House, and I’ll freely admit that in my first tour of the beautiful mansion, I was near tears several times. The White House simply overwhelms the visitor, yet somehow remains warm and inviting.
We haven’t the same feeling about Congress.
And because of its occupants and its symbolic importance, The White House is the best-defended federal building in the United States
It is protected by a permanent battery of surface-to-air-missiles occupies the roof of the White House, sonic weapons that cause seizures over large areas, 24 stationed Secret Service agents armed with M-9's, 12 snipers armed with 50 caliber Barrett sniper rifles on the roof, 12 roving Secret Service agents armed with MP-7's constitutes a small SWAT team, four Marines armed with M-4, Fifteen capitol police armed with Glock-17's, and countless layers of bullet proofing, underground vault panic room, and countless escape tunnels.
But when the man who occupies the Oval Office indentifies more with Europe than his own country…
- when he is vows to “fundamentally change” our country,
- when he undermines our Constitution and apologizes for the United States on foreign soil,
- when such a man justifies being a fifth-columnist by saying “we won.”
- When the President is Barack Hussein Obama, this is what happens to The House of the People.
For the Obamas, nothing is sacred; casual clothes, lavish parties for Hollywood celebs, rappers and sycophants, endless golf and roundball, and jetting off for dinner at $1 million per on the taxpayers’ dime….
.. and then cynically calling time out for a photo-op with caskets of those who died defending him and his temporary housing.
That is the 44th President of the United States.
But the First Couple can always be counted on to be so out of touch that they invite ridicule:
The state-run media reports that:
The Predator First Lady was dressed “… as a purring Cat Woman clad in an orange-and-black leopard print top, fuzzy ears and black eye shadow.”
Black eye shadow?
“Casting about the north lawn was a band of musicians in black and white skeleton leotards, walking trees on stilts and a pair of human butterflies inside giant rolling bubbles.”
“Obama was heard wishing several of the children -- most ages six to 14 -- a simple "Happy Halloween" as…. one toddler burst out crying in his father's arms when he saw the president.”
Out of the mouth of babes….
And White House Mouthpiece Robert Gibbs, added great dignity to his position by dressing as a rather gay Darth Vader.
But he was outdone by Susan Rice, who took the opportunity to “…stray from her ultra-serious role as US ambassador to the United Nations by dressing up as the Disney character Goofy”—no punchline necessary.
Yes, the woman who represents us in the United Nations…. is shown here:
As I said years ago… “we are no longer a serious country”; it’s now confirmed… at the highest level.
I heard that the Obamas went trick or treating as clowns. They didn't even have to change clothes.
chicopanther
PS they took Rev Wright with them!
Posted by: chicopanther | November 03, 2009 at 06:34 AM